Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

eco-global innovative ecological solutions

One of the greatest challenges facing both Local Government and utility owners is how to rehabilitate their existing asset base in a manner that provides both cost effective and customer friendly solutions. One such company to take up the challenge is eco-global pty ltd.

Established in Australia in 1999, it is a joint partnership between Utility Services Corporation and Dalton Consulting Engineers.

"Through practical implementation, eco-global's prime focus is to develop and implement innovative and ecological solutions for infrastructure owners and operators in asset rehabilitation, creation and maintenance services," said Shane Dalton, General Manager eco-global.

"It is an obligation of both Local Government and Infrastructure utilities to explore the new techniques now available."

eco-global has developed construction procedures that draw together the new technologies of design and construction and establishes procedures that make these techniques both practical and cost effective.

Recent contracts include a major water renewal design and construct contract with Yarra Valley Water and a sewer renewal project in Adelaide for the City of Tea Tree Gully.

Eco-global has also been instrumental in the development and implementation of innovative water main renewal techniques for Yarra Valley Water in Melbourne.

One such process has been completed in a partnering agreement, resulting in a co patent for the technique with Yarra Valley Water.

City of Tea Tree Gully South Australia

With a population of almost 98,000 people, Tea Tree Gully is located on Adelaide's north east fringe. A popular gateway to the beautiful Adelaide Hills, Tea Tree Gully is proud of its natural environment and leafy lifestyle.

Growth in residential areas has placed additional pressure on ageing infrastructure. As a result, Council looked for ways to rehabilitate its existing Septic Tank Effluent Drainage System, commonly known as STEDS.

Following an open tender process eco-global was engaged by the City of Tea Tree Gully to undertake trials on a localised system in Hope Valley South Australia. The basis of the trial was to develop and implement ecologically sensitive and cost effective techniques for the rehabilitation of the STEDS while, at the same time, providing 'minimum disruption' for residents in the trial area.

The key challenge faced by Council is the need to rehabilitate the existing system in an area which has extensively developed properties and well established gardens, native flora and attractive streetscapes. Easements in this area are not common.

"We have some 4,400 properties serviced by STEDS, a system installed in the 60s and early 70s that now needs rehabilitation," said Atis Berzins, Council's STEDS Engineer.

"Council was keen to use the latest, environmentally friendly technology, and to demonstrate this to its residents.

"This was the first time much of this technology has been used in South Australia.

"The trial area we selected was not easy to access. However, eco-global's trenchless technology not only fulfilled all our requirements but in some cases residents had not even realised work for their properties had been completed."

During the trial, a number of techniques were developed by eco-global to find the right solution. Many were hybrid techniques this company had used previously in water main renewal for Yarra Valley Water in Melbourne.

"In keeping with the philosophy of our company, wherever possible, local expertise was drawn and not necessarily from the water industry," said Shane Dalton, General Manager eco-global.

"Adelaide based S.A. Directional Boring was engaged by eco-global even though its prime expertise was in the telecommunications horizontal directional drilling industry.

"Michael de Vizio, Managing Director at S.A. Directional Boring, provided eco-global with excellent support in the development of new construction solutions."

For further information contact Atis Berzins at Tea Tree Gully, telephone (08) 8397 7409.

New techniques introduced in Tea Tree Gully

Off Line Drilling

The ground conditions encountered were not anticipated from the bore logs provided. The boring of the new line under the existing pavement was completed with the use of a Rock Drill to drill and subsequently pull back a 160mm Outside Diameter Polyethylene (OD PE) pipe.

Pipe Eduction

Where property occupation encumbers the existing STED alignment, for example at the rear of properties, the technique of pipe eduction was successfully used.

Pipe eduction is part of a patented process, part owned by eco global, where the existing pipeline is reamed out and effectively turned into a slurry and educted simultaneously with the installation of the new pipeline.

In the Hope Valley trial, in one instance, in the one hit, 220 metres of pipe was pulled into place.

Eco Excavation

To minimise the impact of the works on the local environment and property occupation, a technique, developed as Eco Excavation, was applied to excavate access points and encumbered assets.

This technique utilises hydro excavation principles where water jets and eduction lines are used to remove the soil without damage to the existing services or environment.

For further information contact Shane Dalton at eco-global, telephone (03) 9830 2422 or email shane@eco-global.com

Click here to visit the eco-global web site

The following articles are also included in this edition or go BACK to the main page: